2025 Bath CC Women’s National B Road Race: preview and startlist
High-class racing stays in the South West this weekend in the form of the Bath CC Women's Road Race, where on top of National B honours, national titles are on offer for the masters age groups (Sunday, 3 August)
After Noèmie Thomson secured her first National Road Series win in an electric inaugural edition of the Witheridge Grand Prix on Sunday, high-class racing stays in the South West this weekend in the form of the Bath CC Women’s Road Race, where, on top of National B honours, national titles are on offer for the masters age groups.
Featured image: Mark James
What is it?
After last year’s cancellation, the race returns for its 9th edition on Sunday. Awen Roberts, now of the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation team, was the last winner back in 2023, the then junior rider outsprinting a host of talent on the uphill run to the line after an action-packed race.
Set on the edge of the Mendip Hills, the race is described as undulating by the organiser, with a sharp test to the finish, making it a race for riders who favour the hilly terrain.
Following on from a Regional A race in the morning, the Women’s National B race incorporates the Women’s Masters National Championship, with jerseys and titles available for the 30-34, 35-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60+ age groups. With medals on the line throughout the field, the race promises to be an exciting and tactical affair with battles taking place all over the course.
Route
At only 80km, the race is on the shorter side, although what it lacks in distance it more than makes up with in punch, the undulating hills south of Bristol and to the west of Bath a picture perfect battle ground for the puncheurs to flex their muscles.
Set across eight 10km laps, the Stowey circuit is described by the organiser as generally undulating. Rolling out of Bishop Sutton, the circuit is centred around the climb of Stowey Hill, the finish line situated towards its peak. 1.5km long with gradients reaching upwards of 11%, and an average pitch north of 6%, the climb is an ideal launchpad to break the race apart, and as was the case two years ago could decide the winner on the final ascent.
Riders to watch
Fresh off the back of commanding team performances in the National Circuit Series and Witheridge Grand Prix, DAS-Hutchinson will look to continue their fine run of form with three riders on the startlist, all capable of victory.
Tammy Miller, a fine time trialist and winner of the Ronde van Wymeswold last season, proved she can perform on hilly terrain on Sunday, taking third in the Witheridge Grand Prix. Racing near her home roads of Devon again, she will be supported by climber Lizzie Hermolle and first year U23 Ruby Oakes, with the trio hoping to utilise their numerical advantage over the other riders on UCI teams in the race. Stepping up to the Continental ranks this season, 30-year-old Hermolle has shown well on hilly terrain in the past with top tens in the Lancaster and Ryedale GPs last year, as well as a stage win and second overall at the Peaks 2-Day early this season. The Blackpool rider will also have her eye on the 30-34 age group title, although it remains to be seen how the infighting within the race for that championship will affect proceedings towards the front of the race.
Oakes meanwhile formed part of the all conquering Shibden Apex team last season and has quietly gone about making the transition to the senior ranks, a 4th place at the Ronde van Wymeswold in June demonstrating her potential.
After taking a break from racing for her mental health this season, El King’s (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) form may be somewhat unknown, having only ridden circuit races recently, but her pedigree is indisputable. The 22-year-old former CiCLE Classic winner has multiple National Road Series top tens to her name, and the field will need to keep a close eye on her should she make a move, or be present as the race reaches its closing stages.
Castlin Dimbleby (Le Col Race Team) is a rider who could upset the UCI contingent, having twice finished second at National B level this season, most recently at the London Dynamo Road Race, where she was only beaten by starlet Noèmie Thomson. Fourth that day was Grace Reynolds (Smurfit Westrock CT), who followed Dimbleby home in Witheridge on Sunday, the pair 23rd and 24th respectively, just losing contact with the peloton that sprinted for 4th place.
Maddie Heywood (Loughborough Lightning) stuck with that group, and as well as having her eye on the 30-34 masters national title, is a rider with the potential to fight for the win, sprinting to 4th in the Owen Blower Memorial back in June on an uphill finish and demonstrating good form in the National Circuit Series, finishing in the top-10 in Sheffield.
Finally, Jennifer Powell (Performance Development Team) starts as a hot favourite for the 35-39 masters title, but is another rider to watch in the overall National B race, having also finished in the reduced peloton at Witheridge, as well as proving her resilience with a top-20 at the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir and 6th place at the Ronde van Wymeswold this season.
After Noèmie Thomson secured her first National Road Series win in an electric inaugural edition of the Witheridge Grand Prix on Sunday, high-class racing stays in the South West this weekend in the form of the Bath CC Women’s Road Race, where, on top of National B honours, national titles are on offer for the masters age groups.
Featured image: Mark James
What is it?
After last year’s cancellation, the race returns for its 9th edition on Sunday. Awen Roberts, now of the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation team, was the last winner back in 2023, the then junior rider outsprinting a host of talent on the uphill run to the line after an action-packed race.
Set on the edge of the Mendip Hills, the race is described as undulating by the organiser, with a sharp test to the finish, making it a race for riders who favour the hilly terrain.
Following on from a Regional A race in the morning, the Women’s National B race incorporates the Women’s Masters National Championship, with jerseys and titles available for the 30-34, 35-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60+ age groups. With medals on the line throughout the field, the race promises to be an exciting and tactical affair with battles taking place all over the course.
Route
At only 80km, the race is on the shorter side, although what it lacks in distance it more than makes up with in punch, the undulating hills south of Bristol and to the west of Bath a picture perfect battle ground for the puncheurs to flex their muscles.
Set across eight 10km laps, the Stowey circuit is described by the organiser as generally undulating. Rolling out of Bishop Sutton, the circuit is centred around the climb of Stowey Hill, the finish line situated towards its peak. 1.5km long with gradients reaching upwards of 11%, and an average pitch north of 6%, the climb is an ideal launchpad to break the race apart, and as was the case two years ago could decide the winner on the final ascent.
Riders to watch
Fresh off the back of commanding team performances in the National Circuit Series and Witheridge Grand Prix, DAS-Hutchinson will look to continue their fine run of form with three riders on the startlist, all capable of victory.
Tammy Miller, a fine time trialist and winner of the Ronde van Wymeswold last season, proved she can perform on hilly terrain on Sunday, taking third in the Witheridge Grand Prix. Racing near her home roads of Devon again, she will be supported by climber Lizzie Hermolle and first year U23 Ruby Oakes, with the trio hoping to utilise their numerical advantage over the other riders on UCI teams in the race. Stepping up to the Continental ranks this season, 30-year-old Hermolle has shown well on hilly terrain in the past with top tens in the Lancaster and Ryedale GPs last year, as well as a stage win and second overall at the Peaks 2-Day early this season. The Blackpool rider will also have her eye on the 30-34 age group title, although it remains to be seen how the infighting within the race for that championship will affect proceedings towards the front of the race.
Oakes meanwhile formed part of the all conquering Shibden Apex team last season and has quietly gone about making the transition to the senior ranks, a 4th place at the Ronde van Wymeswold in June demonstrating her potential.
After taking a break from racing for her mental health this season, El King’s (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) form may be somewhat unknown, having only ridden circuit races recently, but her pedigree is indisputable. The 22-year-old former CiCLE Classic winner has multiple National Road Series top tens to her name, and the field will need to keep a close eye on her should she make a move, or be present as the race reaches its closing stages.
Castlin Dimbleby (Le Col Race Team) is a rider who could upset the UCI contingent, having twice finished second at National B level this season, most recently at the London Dynamo Road Race, where she was only beaten by starlet Noèmie Thomson. Fourth that day was Grace Reynolds (Smurfit Westrock CT), who followed Dimbleby home in Witheridge on Sunday, the pair 23rd and 24th respectively, just losing contact with the peloton that sprinted for 4th place.
Maddie Heywood (Loughborough Lightning) stuck with that group, and as well as having her eye on the 30-34 masters national title, is a rider with the potential to fight for the win, sprinting to 4th in the Owen Blower Memorial back in June on an uphill finish and demonstrating good form in the National Circuit Series, finishing in the top-10 in Sheffield.
Finally, Jennifer Powell (Performance Development Team) starts as a hot favourite for the 35-39 masters title, but is another rider to watch in the overall National B race, having also finished in the reduced peloton at Witheridge, as well as proving her resilience with a top-20 at the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir and 6th place at the Ronde van Wymeswold this season.
Provisional startlist
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